Road-trip - Nick Cave - Seattle.
So, my brother's jetted off to Germany. My sister in law ( i guess she's my X - sister in law now ) just came back from here separation vacation in Mexico. And she's doing quite well. Met some new people - a guy even - and looks so much less stressed than when she left.
Me, I've been sitting here getting a bit burnt out. Calling my crew lists and checking numbers for the possibility of finding 300 + crew for when Madonna's big show comes to town in late October. So when my friend luis called me and said he had an extra ticket to Nick Cave at the Show-box in Seattle. The idea of seeing him in Seattle's, best really tiny, really intimate clubs... Well, I was out off here, passport in my hot hand and ready for some South of the border, big city, American Alt. Girl watching.
I'm not really a big Nick Cave fan ( All I really know about him is he dated PJ Harvey - one of the few musos I have crush on ) so I went for the trip to get out of Vancouver. Just get away from work, and the freaky ness of having to call 500 people to find 300 stagehands and steel crew. Of Course as soon as the roaming charges set it. The Phone rang off the hook, with guys wondering what all the fuss was about. So, I just turned it off.
It's been along time since I drove past the Peace Arch in an economy car. Pre september 11th, almost of my trips south were as show crew in siting in 5 tonnes full of production gear. And a complete manifest of equipment that made border guards a bit weird. Or, after 911 by bus in the whee hours of transport. To trains and planes at Union Station or Seatac. So finally, after long pass due. I was a passenger crossing the U.S. Border via car.
The last time I saw that many security cameras and signs in a driveway was entering Rammenstien air-force base in germany to set up a Metal band fest for all the troops. Only to find out the event was cancelled due to the first Iraq war ground offensive. Way back in my Long Rock Hair 90's . Entering now, the U.S. border during the day is really creepy.....It has a definate cold war check point charlie feel.
But, once on the other side it was relaxed. And it's nice to know that alot of things never change...
American's are really good drivers. You stay in the right lane, only using the left to pass. Even elderly chinese Americans know how to drive the speed limit + 10 . It's very impressive. And you have the best I-5 in Washington state. Wide and open with huge shoulder lanes. Rows upon rows of reflectors lighting the curve of the lanes and keeping everything in check. The big SUV's I could do without in the rearview mirror that close. But, they are a dieing breed.
It was pretty fast going till we got to the outskirts of Seattle. It's like the minute you see the Space Needle from the I-5 everything becomes instant traffic jam 24/7 til your exits. And, then downtown is almost dead at 7pm. One odd thing about alot of American drivers. Is far more of you drive really, really beat up cars. With body parts missing. And, often driving on that one emergency spare tire. giving the vehicle a sort of Slouchy, Punker look. Canadian's for the most part find those mini tires kind of embarrassing. And, I guess we read the instructions about not using them for long at high speeds. Where as Americans are like " whatever...Fcuking gas Prices...!!!"
But, I'm sorry.... you have no right what so ever to complain about gas prices. We stopped at a 76 for fuel. And luis prepaid for 50 US bucks for his Toyota ( for him in Canada that's just under a full tank ) right around 38 US bucks the fuel tank was full. He went back into the service station to get a refund and the guy at the desk didn't believe him til he showed him the pump and the receipt. Americans have no concept of real fuel taxation.
Mustard... another great thing about America...when delivering a burger platter. A waitress always brings Ketchup AND Mustard. In Canada you have to ask for that.... And some-places, they don't even have it... or the waitress gets all snooty, " that's a special order " look on her face. And I think you like it when Canadian's tip well. Cause we really don't get your money. It's all mostly green and same looking with thease guys on it that nobody seems to know.
Your new 5's....I love your new fives like I love American girls.
See, since the great recession of 2008 American girls don't venture up to Canada that often. ( your fuel costs and our exchange rate ) has seen fit to you all not coming up here and flirting with Canadian guys. And we really miss that. Because we find you far easier to chat up than the Alt. girls in our Cliquey end of the woods.
And, Seattle and LA girls really know how to dress that Alt. rock girl way. Your more sophisticated about your personal look. I guess it's because You had Hot Topic as a starting base when you were in High school, and it's just taken off since that into your individual looks. Because there's more of you... your less cliquey as well. Which makes you all far more approachable. And you have much better Tattoo sense. I think really, it's just that there's more of you. So that Alt rock scene has a more of a, this is important and fun to fly the freak flag. Hot girl chic. And really we nice, shy Canadian boys love you all for it. Even if we do at first find you a tough group to work.
Until I got one of you new 5's
I asked a Bartender about them. And we chatted for the longest time. Much longer than if in Canada I had a new bill in my hands at a bar. In fact people behind me kept complaining I was maxing this girls time servicing other patrons. So, I moved out into the crowd. I tried this new canned line out on several girls, ' Hey, can I ask you a stupid Canadian tourist question - Is this a 5? " while they were half heartedly watching the really boring opening band. ( Here we were waiting for the verbal genius of Nick Cave. And the promoter puts on an opening act of an instrumental band that's channeling Pink Floyd. As if played by Jesus and Mary Chain on horse Tranquilizers ) No one was clapping at the end of songs and chatting with on another. So, I used my 5 line to full effect.
And, I met a bunch of people from Vancouver.... Who I tried to Shanghi as crew for October.
Nick Cave won't come to Vancouver since someone threw a shoe at him here, way back when he was opening Lollapaloosa. ( or so the myth goes...) If it's true... Nick... It's a one time thing and your punishing all of us for one stupid UBC Jock student's antics. What I expected Nick to be.. more low key with the opener being what they were, didn't happen. He totally rocked out ! I'm a new fan. Even though the sound was a bit muddy. And suffered from front lighting issues. I got the show. The only down side is the creepy Porno-stache he's grown. The kind of one that guys grown when they don't have a girlfriend in a long time.
Through my 5's bit, I also met great gang of American Alt girls who, wanted to discuss (RANT) politics to an outsider. So, I went for drinks with over at Hooverville's and check out their Mo-phos of the show and listen to their Presidential concerns. Before heading back to Van with luis later that early morning.
So, my brother's jetted off to Germany. My sister in law ( i guess she's my X - sister in law now ) just came back from here separation vacation in Mexico. And she's doing quite well. Met some new people - a guy even - and looks so much less stressed than when she left.
Me, I've been sitting here getting a bit burnt out. Calling my crew lists and checking numbers for the possibility of finding 300 + crew for when Madonna's big show comes to town in late October. So when my friend luis called me and said he had an extra ticket to Nick Cave at the Show-box in Seattle. The idea of seeing him in Seattle's, best really tiny, really intimate clubs... Well, I was out off here, passport in my hot hand and ready for some South of the border, big city, American Alt. Girl watching.
I'm not really a big Nick Cave fan ( All I really know about him is he dated PJ Harvey - one of the few musos I have crush on ) so I went for the trip to get out of Vancouver. Just get away from work, and the freaky ness of having to call 500 people to find 300 stagehands and steel crew. Of Course as soon as the roaming charges set it. The Phone rang off the hook, with guys wondering what all the fuss was about. So, I just turned it off.
It's been along time since I drove past the Peace Arch in an economy car. Pre september 11th, almost of my trips south were as show crew in siting in 5 tonnes full of production gear. And a complete manifest of equipment that made border guards a bit weird. Or, after 911 by bus in the whee hours of transport. To trains and planes at Union Station or Seatac. So finally, after long pass due. I was a passenger crossing the U.S. Border via car.
The last time I saw that many security cameras and signs in a driveway was entering Rammenstien air-force base in germany to set up a Metal band fest for all the troops. Only to find out the event was cancelled due to the first Iraq war ground offensive. Way back in my Long Rock Hair 90's . Entering now, the U.S. border during the day is really creepy.....It has a definate cold war check point charlie feel.
But, once on the other side it was relaxed. And it's nice to know that alot of things never change...
American's are really good drivers. You stay in the right lane, only using the left to pass. Even elderly chinese Americans know how to drive the speed limit + 10 . It's very impressive. And you have the best I-5 in Washington state. Wide and open with huge shoulder lanes. Rows upon rows of reflectors lighting the curve of the lanes and keeping everything in check. The big SUV's I could do without in the rearview mirror that close. But, they are a dieing breed.
It was pretty fast going till we got to the outskirts of Seattle. It's like the minute you see the Space Needle from the I-5 everything becomes instant traffic jam 24/7 til your exits. And, then downtown is almost dead at 7pm. One odd thing about alot of American drivers. Is far more of you drive really, really beat up cars. With body parts missing. And, often driving on that one emergency spare tire. giving the vehicle a sort of Slouchy, Punker look. Canadian's for the most part find those mini tires kind of embarrassing. And, I guess we read the instructions about not using them for long at high speeds. Where as Americans are like " whatever...Fcuking gas Prices...!!!"
But, I'm sorry.... you have no right what so ever to complain about gas prices. We stopped at a 76 for fuel. And luis prepaid for 50 US bucks for his Toyota ( for him in Canada that's just under a full tank ) right around 38 US bucks the fuel tank was full. He went back into the service station to get a refund and the guy at the desk didn't believe him til he showed him the pump and the receipt. Americans have no concept of real fuel taxation.
Mustard... another great thing about America...when delivering a burger platter. A waitress always brings Ketchup AND Mustard. In Canada you have to ask for that.... And some-places, they don't even have it... or the waitress gets all snooty, " that's a special order " look on her face. And I think you like it when Canadian's tip well. Cause we really don't get your money. It's all mostly green and same looking with thease guys on it that nobody seems to know.
Your new 5's....I love your new fives like I love American girls.
See, since the great recession of 2008 American girls don't venture up to Canada that often. ( your fuel costs and our exchange rate ) has seen fit to you all not coming up here and flirting with Canadian guys. And we really miss that. Because we find you far easier to chat up than the Alt. girls in our Cliquey end of the woods.
And, Seattle and LA girls really know how to dress that Alt. rock girl way. Your more sophisticated about your personal look. I guess it's because You had Hot Topic as a starting base when you were in High school, and it's just taken off since that into your individual looks. Because there's more of you... your less cliquey as well. Which makes you all far more approachable. And you have much better Tattoo sense. I think really, it's just that there's more of you. So that Alt rock scene has a more of a, this is important and fun to fly the freak flag. Hot girl chic. And really we nice, shy Canadian boys love you all for it. Even if we do at first find you a tough group to work.
Until I got one of you new 5's
I asked a Bartender about them. And we chatted for the longest time. Much longer than if in Canada I had a new bill in my hands at a bar. In fact people behind me kept complaining I was maxing this girls time servicing other patrons. So, I moved out into the crowd. I tried this new canned line out on several girls, ' Hey, can I ask you a stupid Canadian tourist question - Is this a 5? " while they were half heartedly watching the really boring opening band. ( Here we were waiting for the verbal genius of Nick Cave. And the promoter puts on an opening act of an instrumental band that's channeling Pink Floyd. As if played by Jesus and Mary Chain on horse Tranquilizers ) No one was clapping at the end of songs and chatting with on another. So, I used my 5 line to full effect.
And, I met a bunch of people from Vancouver.... Who I tried to Shanghi as crew for October.
Nick Cave won't come to Vancouver since someone threw a shoe at him here, way back when he was opening Lollapaloosa. ( or so the myth goes...) If it's true... Nick... It's a one time thing and your punishing all of us for one stupid UBC Jock student's antics. What I expected Nick to be.. more low key with the opener being what they were, didn't happen. He totally rocked out ! I'm a new fan. Even though the sound was a bit muddy. And suffered from front lighting issues. I got the show. The only down side is the creepy Porno-stache he's grown. The kind of one that guys grown when they don't have a girlfriend in a long time.
Through my 5's bit, I also met great gang of American Alt girls who, wanted to discuss (RANT) politics to an outsider. So, I went for drinks with over at Hooverville's and check out their Mo-phos of the show and listen to their Presidential concerns. Before heading back to Van with luis later that early morning.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
bedwelld:
Sounds like you had a good trip down to the good ole U.S.A.!
bedwelld:
She did not come with the bike. I won't mind taking her for a ride either!